Wasserkirche, Church in Zürich, Switzerland
The Wasserkirche is a church in Zürich, Switzerland, located on the right bank of the Limmat River in the old town. It stands between the Grossmünster and the Fraumünster, and its name comes from the fact that it was originally built on a small island in the river.
The first church was built around the year 1000 on an island in the Limmat. It was rebuilt in the late Gothic style in the 15th century, and after the Reformation it served as a library and storage space before being restored as a church in the 20th century.
The church is dedicated to the city's patron saints, Felix and Regula, and the crypt holds the stone where they are said to have been executed. Today, the building is used for services and concerts, and its choir windows by Augusto Giacometti add a modern touch to the old walls.
The church is easy to reach on foot from the central squares and can be visited during the day. The crypt, which is open to the public, offers a look at the archaeological remains and is worth a short stop.
The church once housed Zürich's first public library, and some of its furniture can still be seen in the central library. Also, the crypt contains graves from the 11th century that were discovered during excavations in 2004.
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